Stamp-applying machine.



A. J. DOWNBY.

STAMP APPLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1912.

1,033,557. Patented July23,1912.

4/42 J h y.

mm 0m;

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON, D, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLEEN J. DOWNEY, OF SAN GABRIEL, CALIFORNIA.

STAMP-APPLYING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEEN J. DowNnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Gabriel, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stamp-Applying Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to various improvements in stamp applying machines; and the prime object thereof is to provide a machine which will readily and efliciently apply moisture for the application of a stamp, and in which the feeding of the stamp strip becomes sure and certain.

It is particularly in the stamp strip feeding means that the improvements of my present invention reside. I have provided a feeding means which invariably accurately feeds a single stamp to the severing mechanism; the basis of the feed being a series of perforation engaging fingers which are reciprocated over the stamp strip and which are normally raised out of engagement with the stamp strip by a suitable means. I employ a slotted member over the stamp feeding chute which serves to hold the strip down on the chute, the stamp feeding fingers projecting through the slots in this member while feeding the stamp strip. But, when the feeding fingers are in their normal position, their engaging ends rest upon a solid portion of this slotted member so that the stamp strip may be freely inserted into the machine without obstruction by the feeding fingers.

The details of this construction, and the combination of the different parts, will be best understood from the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved mechanism, the cover being removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 2, illustrating in detail the strip feeding fingers. Fig. 4 is an en larged detail showing the end of a strip feeding finger and showing its mode of engagementwith the stamp perforation.

In the drawings 5 designates a suitable base of any material and 6 a suitable boX or housing thereon for containing the mechanism of my device. A removable cover 7 is provided for the housing for inspection Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 25, 1912.

Patented July23, 1912.

Serial No. 685,924.

of the contained mechanism. On the base near one edge thereof is mounted a suitable bracket 8 which removably holds a pin 9 upon which a stamp strip roll 10, shown in dotted lines, may be placed. The stamp strip is fed from the roll through an aperture 11 in the side of the housing 6 and directly along a stamp feeding chute 12. Chute 12 extends from side to side of the housing 6 and has on its delivery end a stationary shear member 18 at whose outer edge a stamp is sheared from the stamp strip and applied to an envelop or other article on stamp applying support 14. Beneath support 14 is arranged a small'receptacle 15 containing water or other liquid 16 and a suitable wicking 17. An extension 18 is provided for applying support 14 and is hinged thereto at 19 so that it may be thrown upwardly when it is desired to fill the liquid receptacle 15 or to remove the liquid receptacle from the machine. Directly over the wicking 17 there is an aperture 20 through which a moistening member 21 projects to engage with wicking 17. Moistening member 21 is mounted on a pivoted drag 22, the arrangement being such that an envelop may be passed under the drag .in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, and moistening member 21 will then drag over the upper surface of the envelop and moisten it as it is moved in that direction. The envelop is moved to the right until its edge engages the housing 6, when it is in position for applying a stamp.

I have shown a combined stamp applying and severing member adapted to be manually operated and so connected with the feeding mechanism as to simultaneously operate it. Member 30 has an applying pad 81 on its under face and is provided with a shear member 82 adapted to engage with member 18 to shear a stamp along its perforation line from the stamp strip. Member 80 is rigidly mounted on a shaft 88 journaled in suitable hearings in housing 6, the shaft being normally held in the position shown by means of a spring 84 attached to the bottom of the housing or to base 5 and to an arm 85 mounted on the shaft. Shaft 88 also carries an arm 86 which projects toward the chute 12 and preferably carries a roller 87 on its end to engage in a suitable cam slot 88 on a rocker 89. Rocker 89 is pivoted at 40 to a suitable bearing 41, and

' member 58.

. tact.

the arrangement is such that, when the shaft is oscillated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, the rocker 39 will be moved in the direction indicated in Fig. 8; but the cam slot 38 is so shaped that the last portion of the movement of arm 86 and of shaft 83 will cause little or no movement of rocker 89. The rocker will reach the end of its movement before the shaft 33 and the applying member 30. Rocker 39 carries a stud 50 upon which a number of feeding fingers 51 are mounted. The feeding fingers are suitably spaced apart as is illustrated in Fig. 1 and they are held down by means of a small spring Their outer or stamp engaging ends are formed as is shown in detail at 53 in Fig. l, being so shaped as to catch in perforations 55 of stamp strip 56 when moved in the direction indicated by the arrow but to slide over the stamp strip when moved in the opposite direction. Normally, the engaging ends 53 of the fingers 51 rest upon a transverse solid portion 57 of slotted Member 58 is seen to be composed of a number of arms 59 separated by longitudinal. slots, through which slots the fingers 51 are adapted to project when moved to the left in Figs. 1 and 2. The

. stamp strip is fed along chute 12 beneath member 58, and, upon movement to the left, the fingers 51 drop off portion 57 on to the stamp strip and engage with the first line of perforations with which they come into con- A small spring 60 is provided for holding the stamp strip down on the chute 12 beneath the fingers 51 and for guiding the forward end of the strip under the member 58 when the strip is originally inserted.

In operation, an envelop or other article is first placed upon the applying support in the manner hereinbefore described. A strip of stamps has previously been placed in the machine, the strip being fed by hand along chute 12 until the forward edge of the strip appears on shearing member 13. In this position there is a line of perforations directly to the left, in Fig. 2, of the solid portion 57 and to the left of the position where the ends 53 of fingers 51 drop down on to the strip. Downward movement on the applying member 30 will then move the fingers 51 to the left, the fingers engaging the said perforations and moving the strip to the left in Fig. 2 so that one complete stamp is fed over the edge of shearing member 13. The dimensions of the device are so made that the fingers 51 will reach the end of their movement just when a complete stamp has been fed over the edge of member 13 and when stamp applying member 30 is just ready to shear this stamp from the strip and apply it to the envelop beneath. Further downward movement of the member 80 engages the shearing member 32 with shearing member 13, severing the stamp along its line of perforations and pad 31 then presses the stamp on to the moistened envelop. The advai'itage of moistening the envelop is this; that the stamps are not moistened until actually pressed upon the envelop. In machines which moisten the stamp it is only mechanically feasible to moisten the stamp which is to be next applied; and, when the machine is allowed to stand for any length of time, this already moistened stamp is liable to lose its gum.

The machine described is very easy of oporation and applies the stamps accurately, positively and quickly. The pressure of the thumb on member 80 sutlices for the operation of the whole machine. The method and mechanism of feeding insure accuracy; and the machine as a whole is so simple that there are few wearing parts and little liability to derangement.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A stamp applying machine, comprising in combination a base, an applying support thereon, means thereon for moistening the article on the applying support, a stamp strip chute having its delivery end. adjacent and over one edge of the applying support,

a slotted member over said chute for holding a stamp strip thereon, a series of perforation engaging fingers movable over said chute and projecting through the slots in said member, a solid portion on said slotted member on which the fingers are adapted normally to rest and thereby to be held out of engagement with the stamp strip, a shaft journaled on the base parallel to the chute, an arm on said shaft projecting toward the chute, a rocker pivoted to the base, the arm and rocker and fingers being so connected that an oscillation of said shaft will cause a reciprocation of the fingers, a stationary cutting member on the delivery end of the chute, and an oscillating combined cutting and applying member mounted on said shaft and operable by hand to cooperate with the stationary cutting member to sever a stamp from the end of the stamp strip and apply the severed stamp to the article on the applying support.

2. A stamp applying machine, comprising in combination a. base, an applying support thereon, a stamp strip chute having its delivery end adjacent and over one edge of the applying support, a slotted member over said chute for holding a stamp strip thereon, a shaft journaled on the base parallel to said chute, an arm on said shaft projecting toward the chute, a stamp perforation engaging finger adapted to project through the slotted member, connecting means between the finger and shaft arm whereby rotation of the shaft causes movement of the finger parallel to the chute, a stationary cutting member on the end of the chute over the applying support, and an oscillating combined cutting and applying member mounthave hereunto siibscribed my name this 15th ed on said shaft and operable by hand to 00- day of March, 1912. operate With the stationary cutting member to sever a stamp from the end of a stamp ALLEEN DOWNEY' 5 strip and apply the severed stamp to an Witnesses:

article on the applying support. ELWooD H. BARKELEW,

In witness that I claim the foregoing I ADDIE E. PIERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

